Jesus is God with us, the God who comes close to us. But there are times when Jesus is a great distance from us, because of our sin. Jesus reveals God to us, but also the difference between God and us. Jesus is God’s bridge to us and our bridge to God, but sometimes Jesus stands against us. There is a gap between us and God; and true discipleship—taking up our cross—means risking that gap in order that we might be brought closer to the true, living God.